Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s disease – Definition

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a movement disorder. The symptoms get worse over time and can include:

Muscle rigidity

Tremor at rest

Slowing down of movements (bradykinesia)

Difficulty moving and gait instability

Parkinson’s disease – Causes

PD is caused by a loss of certain nerve cells in the brain. The loss of these cells cause a decreases in the amount of a brain chemical called dopamine. Low dopamine levels cause PD symptoms.

The brain cells may be lost because of genetic defects, the environment, or some combination of the two. A small amount of people with PD have an early onset form. This type is caused by an inherited gene defect.

Secondary PD has similar symptoms but is caused by several factors such as:

Parkinson’s disease – Symptoms

Tremors are present at rest, improve with movement, and are absent during sleep

Stiffness and rigidity of muscles, usually beginning on one side of the body

Difficulty and shuffling when walking

Short steps

Slowness of purposeful movements

Trouble performing usual tasks, due to shaking in hands and slowness of movement

Trouble speaking (often speaking with a low volume)

Flat, monotonous voice

Stuttering

Shaky, spidery, or small handwriting

Poor balance

Difficulty with rising from a sitting position

“Freezing”

Anxiety

Seborrhea (a skin problem that causes a red rash and white scales)

Loss of smell

Urinary symptoms (frequency and urgency)

Bowel movement symptoms (straining, constipation)

Tendency to fall

Stooped posture

Increasingly mask-like face, with little variation in expression

Trouble chewing and swallowing

Drooling and excessive salivation

Depression

Dementia

Hallucinations

Difficulty thinking, problems with memory

Decreased sense of smell

Sleep problems such as REM-behavior disorder

Parkinson’s disease – Diagnosis

The doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history. A physical exam will be done. There are no tests to definitively diagnose PD. The doctor will ask many questions. This will help to rule out other causes of your symptoms.

Tests to rule out other conditions may include:

Blood tests

Urine tests

CT scan — a type of x-ray that uses a computer to make pictures of structures inside the head

MRI scan — a test that uses magnetic waves to make pictures of structures inside the head

PET scan — a scan that makes images that show the amount of activity in the brain . A special kind of PET scan called a DAT scan may be used in the evaluation of PD.

Parkinson’s disease – Treatment

Currently, there are no treatments to cure PD. There are also no proven treatments to slow or stop its progression. Some medications may help to improve symptoms. Over time the side effects of the medication may become troublesome. The medications may also lose their effectiveness.